Topic: 998 Transducer Question

[fishesman]

I'm considering installing a second 998 on my boat so that I can display more data at one time. I'd probably just go with an 1198, but I don't think I have room to flush mount one on my console without a lot of rearranging. I want to be able to display navigation, side scan, down imaging, and sonar all at one time. Currently, the left channel of my side scan isn't very clear because of motor interference. I'd like to install 2 transducers to clear this issue up. My question is can I display all of the data above using only 2 transducers or would I have to install 3? I know that I can change the settings so that a single 998 head unit uses 2 different transducers to display side scan data, but would that transducer then only send data to that single head unit?

Thanks for any suggestions.

[Bob B]

First, you don't have to change settings to get a unit to use 2 transducers.  You accomplish this with cabling which separates where the left and right images come from.  The unit just thinks there is 1 transducer, even though there are 2. 

The right SI would come from the starboard transducer and left SI element of this transducder would not be active.
The left SI would come from the port transducer and the right SI element on this transducer would not be active.
There are others on here using 2 transom transducers who can give you all the cabling details you need to accomplish this.

You should be able to share this "composite" transducer with the other unit via an Ethernet connection.

Another option for the second unit would be to cheaper unit and use it for dedicated mapping only.  You could split the Si, DI, and sonar on the other unit.

[fishesman]

Thanks Bob. To network two units what do I need? Is it just a matter of buying a cable if I want to connect 2 units in the 1100, 900, and 800 series or do I have to purchase a cable and adapter? This has never been clear to me when I look at the Humminbird web site.

I was thinking about your suggestion of adding a cheaper unit to display nav data, but the problem I see with this is that the cheaper units use a different transducer. By the time I bought a cheaper unit and a spare 998 transducer I might as well have bought the 998. I see some good deals on refurbished units.

[Humminbird_Greg]

fishesmen,
If you are planning on adding a second 998 unit, all you would need is a single Ethernet Connection cable.  If the units are not that far apart you could possibly get by with the AS-EC-2E (2 foot long cable) or the longer AS-EC-10E (10 foot long cable).

For splitting the left and right Si sonar beams you would need the AS-SiLR-Y cable.

[Bob B]

Thanks Bob. To network two units what do I need? Is it just a matter of buying a cable if I want to connect 2 units in the 1100, 900, and 800 series or do I have to purchase a cable and adapter? This has never been clear to me when I look at the Humminbird web site.

I was thinking about your suggestion of adding a cheaper unit to display nav data, but the problem I see with this is that the cheaper units use a different transducer. By the time I bought a cheaper unit and a spare 998 transducer I might as well have bought the 998. I see some good deals on refurbished units.

You wouldn't even need to install a transducer on the unit if you just used it for mapping, you could turn the sonar off.